Archives for April 2014

{In this photo, I am using the Hunt 100 nib on a commissioned illustration.}

Recently, I have received a lot of questions about calligraphy nibs — people want to know what to buy, which is a valid question that any calligrapher, fledgling or established, can — and should — have. The truth is … calligraphy nibs, for me, are like restaurants. {Before you raise an eyebrow at my strange metaphor, let me explain!} Every month or so, I get obsessed with a new restaurant that I can’t get enough of. I’ll eat there all the time and rave about it to anyone who will listen. Then, I discover a new restaurant, forget about the old restaurant, and the cycle begins again. So it goes with nibs; I get obsessed and use one to bits, and then the next best thing comes along. Essentially, this post may be a little dated depending on when you’re tuning in, but I will keep you updated in subsequent posts when I find new nibs that I love.Continue reading…

I am sure that there are a {very} small handful of calligraphers out there blessed with an uncanny ability to space correctly 99% of the time without the aid of a ruler. I am not one of them. No matter what type of calligraphy I am creating, I use some spacing method to ensure that my envelopes turn out perfect. Since it’s a service that my clients are paying for, I would feel uncomfortable not giving them my best work!Continue reading…

I thought today would be a fun today for a snail mail freebie: an envelope template. I used the border from the piece I created for my watercolor calligraphy post to make this unique, fun envelope template! Here’s what to do to make your own within a minute or two:Continue reading…

There comes a time in every calligrapher’s life when he or she must write using gold calligraphy ink. This time can be a stressful one if you don’t have the right ink. Luckily, I’ve been there {done that!}, and I can lend you some guidance on the topic.Continue reading…

For a long time, I didn’t like chalk pastels. I couldn’t get over how dusty they got my hands {and desk, and floor, and anything else in the room}, and the patience required to blend. But lately, I’ve come to realize that chalk pastels are wonderful because of the soft, sweet effect they lend their subjects. Not only are they great for depicting objects …Continue reading…

In the past, I have written using three calligraphy pen holders: a black plastic Speedball straight holder, a black plastic Speedball oblique holder, and a wooden/cork General’s straight holder. My favorite of the three was the General’s straight holder because it has a better feel than the plastics; but at times it gets a bit bulky.Continue reading…

This weekend provided a nice little break for us; we spent the past couple of days enjoying the slow pace of my Kansas hometown, and I got a chance to take some product photos. My vision was rustic chic, à la the works of Anna Claire Howard, a talented photographer with a knack for styling. Because my mother is an antiques dealer, I had access to all sorts of fun props!

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YOU + A BRUSH PEN = GORGEOUS LETTERING

Learn brush pen calligraphy from scratch with the new Kaitlin Style Calligraphy worksheets + videos. Kaitlin Style is a whimsical, artistic way of lettering that's perfect for making word art, decorated envelopes, and signs!